“I think Toronto’s an unbelievable city,” Laviolette said. “It’s the [Dallas] Cowboys, it’s the [New York] Yankees, you know what I mean. It’s as big as far as hockey goes, so I would think that every coach out there that’s available would throw his hat in that ring, and I’m no different in that regard,” Laviolette said. “Secondly, I think that the core players that they have there are really good players, so there’s something to build off of. I know the season didn’t go the way they wanted it to, but they’ve been a really good team with really good pieces for some time now and chasing that ultimate goal. As it moves forward for me, it’s always a starting point.”
Laviolette boasts one of the most decorated resumes in hockey, with a Stanley Cup victory and 846 career wins. He’s widely respected across the league and his hyper-competitive nature could galvanize a Maple Leafs team that habitually underperforms relative to their talent.
Roy previously served as the head coach of the New York Islanders. He was fired with four games remaining in the 2025-26 season, as the Islanders fell out of the playoff race during the final weeks of the campaign. Roy has also won two Memorial Cups and has been lauded for his work with younger players. He could be an appealing candidate for a Leafs team, that may focus their direction around Gavin McKenna, Matthew Knies and Easton Cowan.
There isn’t a front-runner at this stage of the process, as the Maple Leafs did not request an interview with Anaheim Ducks assistant Jay Woodcroft. Laviolette and Roy both carry the profile and attitude to thrive in Toronto and it’ll be compelling to see how this week proceeds, with the NHL Draft on the horizon.